Andaz

Shammi Kapoor has passed away. The famous YAHOO hero is no more. Out of the three sons of the legendary artist - Prithvi Raj Kapoor, everyone carved a niche for himself and developed an identity of his own, quite distinctive from his father and the two brothers. The middle son Shammi Kapoor (born on 21.10.1931) started his career as a romantic hero (from Jeevan Jyoti - 1953) with the traditional moustache on his face. However in the late fifties, he clean-shaved himself and adopted a new style suiting a fun-loving hero. Tumsa Nahi Dekha (1957) was the first noticeable movie in this context and Junglee (1961) set him on top of the world.

While paying my tribute to the legendary hero, I am reviewing his last movie as a romantic hero which is Andaaz (1971) in which he starred opposite the Swapna Sundari (the dream-girl) - Hema Malini with the then superstar of Hindi cinema - Rajesh Khanna starring in a guest appearance.

Andaaz (way of doing a thing) is a family drama. It tells the story of a widow and mother of a son, Sheetal (Hema Malini) and a widower and father of a daughter, Ravi (Shammi Kapoor) who come across each other through their children and start liking each other. Ravi is the step-son of the (female) head of a business family and his unscrupulous and licentious younger brother, Baadal (Roopesh Kumar) is always conspiring against him. Sheetal is, in fact, the daughter-in-law of a rich man (Ajit) who had discarded his son, Raj (Rajesh Khanna) and herself for marrying against his wish. She, while preserving the memories of Raj who had passed away in an accident, is fostering her little son by making a living through working as a teacher in the school where Ravi's son is also her student. Ravi, on the other hand, has been licking his wounds and tackling his loneliness since the demise of his wife - Mona (Simmi Grewal). Feeling that himself and Sheetal can fill the vacuum in each other's life (because their griefs and loneliness are similar), Ravi proposes to Sheetal and she too, accepts his proposal. However their marriage is not acceptable to his step-mother (Achla Sachdev). When his step-brother Baadal rapes a working woman - Mahua (Aruna Irani) and after her committing suicide, throws the blame on his head, life seems to be becoming hell for him. However everything falls in place in the end and the union of Ravi and Sheetal eventually takes place.

Ramesh Sippy (the director of the legendary movie - Sholay) has directed this emotional family drama pretty well. The movie is not only interesting but also through the characters of the little children, touches the heart of the audience at many places. The song - Hai Na Bolo Bolo, Papa Ko Mummy Se, Mummy Ko Papa Se Pyar Hai, can be viewed in this light. The story is a formula-based one but the skilfully written screenplay is able to entertain the viewers throughout.

Shankar-Jaikishan has composed praiseworthy music for this movie. It contains the immortal song of Kishore Kumar - Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhaana, Yahaan Kal Kya Ho Kisne Jaana (penned by Hasrat Jaipuri). Its shorter version is in Rafi's voice too in the movie. In addition to the song mentioned in the previous para, other songs are also quite good. Dil Usse Do Jo Jaan De De and Re Mama Re Mama Re are specifically notable.

The technical and production value aspects of the movie are quite in line with the trend of the late sixties and the seventies as well as the repute of the Sippy banner.

It's the last movie of Shammi Kapoor as a romantic hero and his role demanded maturity not only on face but also in performance. And Shammi Kapoor has done it perfectly. Nowhere is he over the top and portrayed the widower and an affectionate father on the screen with finesse, bringing all his experience as a hero over the previous 18 years into his performance. Hema Malini is miscast in the role of a widow having a school-going son because of her tender age (barely 23 years), yet the dream-girl has made it up through maturity in gestures and performance. Then superstar Rajesh Khanna has delivered a heart-winning performance in the guest role. Others are routine. However the child-artists are the heart and soul of this movie and they were instrumental in making this movie a box-office hit.

I unconditionally recommend this entertaining family drama to the movie buffs and bow my head in the memory of the legendary actor - Shammi Kapoor. May his soul rest in peace.

In this Sippy super hit movie Rajesh Khanna makes a special appearance for 30 minutes but steals the thunder with his powerful portrayal of his character and sings the immortal song Zindagi ek safar hai suhana. The movie has powerful performances by Shammi Kapoor, Hema Malini and Ajit apart from Rajesh Khanna. The kids have done their part well. The music by Shanker Jaikishan is very melodious and the song of Kishore Kumar was a rage and has become immortal. It is a must see. However, this is one of the last movies of Shammi Kapoor as a leading actor and he looks old in the movie. We wish that he continued as a leading actor for more years. Hema Malini was the No 1 heroine then and does justice to her role but the show belongs to Rajesh Khanna who shows his class as an actor in the movie.

I can remember watching this film about five times and never getting bored of it, this is due to the story line being different to other films. It wants to make you want to fall in love, watching it. Shammi Kapoor's and Hema Malini's chemistry through out the film is superb as they both fall in love with each other. The songs are nice, especially the theme music. I've been a Shammi Kapoor fan for a long time and to me this was one of his finest role in his film career, and he still looks handsome as ever! This film for me will always hold a special place in my heart, as it is the only old film I like.

This has nothing in common with the 1949 classic black and white Andaz with Nargis and Dilip Kumar apart from the title and each stars one of the Kapoor's (Raj and Shammi). There Naushad supplied some beautiful music which was sung to by the young Lata, here Shankar-Jaikeshan provide some rather flat songs except for the much-reprised Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana by King Kishore Kumar. Here we have the chunky Shammi Kapoor gradually falling for the doll-like Hema Malini (and more unlikely, vice versa) to a different generation and set of morals.

They both have different yet similar histories as their respective partners have died – she's supposedly an unmarried mother to a boy while he's a lone parent to a girl. Fate brings them together more and more, mainly through the agency of their children who obviously have more sense than the adults. Everyone in here is cute, except for hip character Badal who looks a bit like the old UK TV character Jason King but who turns out to be a three-in-a-bed rapist. It's an expertly put together journey with excellent production values and some very nice scenery in a warm colour. The best of the hip songs is Mujhe Pyas Aisi Pyas Lagi Hai which is seductively sung by Asha – while the syrupy ditty sung by the children is maybe best forgotten!

One could perhaps have wished for a little more of Hemi's impulsive first lover played by Rajesh Khanna, but it's pleasant and absorbing enough with Shammi underplaying his more "weighty" role for a change. And anyway as the song goes Nobody knows what will happen tomorrow, so let's make the most of what we've got.

Andaz (1971) : Brief Review -

A brilliant 70s drama by Ramesh Sippy. Andaz has no similarities with Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, and Nargis' record-breaking blockbuster, "Andaz" (1949), except that a lady with two love interests. "Zindagi Ek Safar Suhana" may be one of your all-time favorite travel songs, but after watching this film, you will realize that the song is very inspiring to live this life. Whatever happens, happens; just don't care about the past and move ahead with the future. The song teaches you a lot of things like this. Andaz cannot be counted as Rajesh Khanna's movie because he hardly has a 15-minute role here. That's enough to be called an extended cameo, not the second lead. The film is about a single mother, Sheetal, and a single father, Ravi, who fall in love and decide to get married as their children also like each other. However, both have past traumas as they have lost their partners. Can they outcome it and live together when there are a few other problems too to make it difficult for them? Rajesh Khanna plays Raj, the first husband of Sheetal, a role that is very similar to "Aradhana." But instead of giving her son away, Sheetal keeps it with her and lives with him. The film is based on many such cliches that audiences have seen in many movies from the 60s and 50s. Be it the rape angle, enemy brother, or in-laws negative mindset. Shammi Kapoor plays a fine role, and Hema Malini looks very fresh and beautiful. Both child artists, Alankar and Gauri, are super cute. Shankar-Jaikishan's album has a variety, but nothing as iconic as Zindagi Ek Safar. Re Mama is a fun children's song, and Papa Ko Mummy Se is a love song from a children's point of view. Ramesh Sippy keeps the drama simple but very engaging. No hardcore moments or forced scenes. Andaz's real beauty is in following unintellectual footprints.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.